Monday, September 25, 2006

UK will allow civil unions

LONDON (AP) -- Same-sex partners in Britain will be able to enter into civilunions from December, joining gays in parts of Europe and the United Statesin obtaining many of the rights enjoyed by married people, the governmentsaid Monday.

The Civil Partnerships Bill passed by Parliament last year gives same-sexcouples the right to form legally binding partnerships and entitles them tosome of the same tax and pension rights married couples have.

Starting Dec. 5, couples will be able to notify the register office at theirlocal council that they intend to form civil partnerships. After a 15-daywaiting period, they will sign an official partnership document in front ofwitnesses.

``This legislation is going to make a real difference to these couples andit demonstrates the government's commitment to equality and socialjustice,'' said Deputy Minister for Women and Equality Jacqui Smith.

``It opens the way to respect, recognition and justice for those who havebeen denied it for too long.''

The government said some register offices have already started receivinginquiries from same-sex couples.

Separately Monday, the armed services said they will allow same-sex coupleswith registered partnerships to share family quarters.

``We will be complying with the law. We are obliged to give equal treatmentto gay and lesbian partnerships'' under the new act, said Royal Navyspokesman Anton Hanney, adding that same-sex couples in the armed servicesalready enjoy equal pension rights.

The new act does not use the term ``marriage,'' but among other benefits itgrants same-sex couples rights to their partners' pensions; gives themnext-of-kin status; and exempts them from paying inheritance tax on apartner's home. It also will require partners to provide maintenance foreach other and any children in the case of a break-up.

Partners will be able to dissolve the agreement in a form of divorcesettlement.

Officials at the Department of Trade and Industry estimate there will bemore than 42,000 same-sex partnership agreements in place by 2050.

``This is the moment we fought so hard for,'' said Ben Summerskill, chiefexecutive of the gay rights group Stonewall. ``At last, lesbian and gaycouples can begin to plan their future lives together.''

Nine European Union members allow same-sex partnerships, beginning withDenmark, which legislated for the unions in 1989.

In the United States, more than a dozen states recognize some form ofdomestic partnerships or civil unions, according to the National Conferenceof State Legislatures, but 11 states voted in November to ban gay marriage.